Baltimore Ravens Thread

Paully D

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Like last week, this is another game I'm predicting my Pats will lose. Losing Gronk yet again, has put the icing on the cake for what has been a nightmarishly jinxed season. So I can't see anything for us but a quick playoff exit. There has to be a limit to Brady pulling out last second wins and I think we have reached it this season. This time last year I told you guys the Superbowl was yours, the Ravens had destiny written all over them. Harbuagh seems to have mastered the art of getting his team on form when it matters. So earlier in the season when you guys looked like a disaster, I took it with a pinch of salt. Because I knew you would pick it up at crunch time.

Flacco has now established a pattern of having some terrible games during the season. But like Eli, he plays his best stuff against us and I expect the same again today. While your offense might never light it up during the season, you have that Holy Grail us Pats fans seek - a fantastic defense. Defense does win Championships and you guys yet again have one of the, if not the best one in the league. So for me, the most dangerous team in the playoffs this year are the Ravens. The AFC team most likely to win the SB this year is the Ravens. And the AFC team, that NFC teams will least likely want to face has to be the Ravens.

My advice to any Ravens fans worried about making the playoffs this year? Keep calm and trust Harbaugh. You guys will get it done.

We still have a hell of a lot to do to even make the playoffs IMO, let alone talk of us going deep into them. Tonight is a huge task. Then if we do manage to win we may have to go to Cincinnati and also win there. Much easier said than done.

Things are looking like they might be clicking into place though. Pitta coming back is huge given a) Flacco's trust in him and b) it means defenses have to take away the middle of the field now thus often leaving Torrey Smith one-on-one on the outside. There's also not many QB's I would take over Flacco in a final drive with the game on the line, whatever one can say about him, there's no denying he is clutch and Tucker is the best kicker in the league which is an underrated aspect of the team. However, on the opposite end of the scale, we can't run the ball, can't move the chains in short yardage situations and can't score TD's. Not a good combination.

I think the line tonight is about right, Ravens -2. It will be close. Hopefully the Bills can do us a favour against the Dolphins, but if we both win tonight it leaves us having to go to Cincinnati and win. A very tough task and I would be surprised if we made it without the Dolphins imploding against the Bills or Jets.

mikemac1

Four pro bowlers

Suggs
Ngata
Yanda
Tucker

None of the first three had especially good seasons, maybe a bit of name recognition there?

However Tucker deserves it for sure :cool:

Paully D

mikemac1 wrote: »

Four pro bowlers

Suggs
Ngata
Yanda
Tucker

None of the first three had especially good seasons, maybe a bit of name recognition there?

However Tucker deserves it for sure :cool:

Yeah, it's a popularity contest more than anything. Yanda was probably next most deserving after Tucker. He's been by far our best O-lineman, although that's not saying much :pac:

Happy Christmas/New Year to all Ravens fans by the way. What a great year it has been for us:

GoldFour4

Been spending the day lazing about on the laptop. Came across this video, not sure whether many of you have seen it before but I thought it was a pretty nice little vid about one of the best games of last season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saHoK5dnAKs

kevohmsford

Disappointing end to the season for the Ravens.

Flacco just never looked like getting it done. His injury must be pretty bad.

Where does the team need strengthening ? A new wide receiver would be great. Will John Harbaugh keep his job ?

Pudsy33

kevohmsford wrote: »

Disappointing end to the season for the Ravens.

Flacco just never looked like getting it done. His injury must be pretty bad.

Where does the team need strengthening ? A new wide receiver would be great. Will John Harbaugh keep his job ?

The defense is young and is getting better so we are fine in that regard.

All the issues are on the other side of the ball. I find it hard to lay much blame on Flacco tbh. We have poor depth at receiver, a sieve for and offensive line and a pair of running backs who seem to have forgotten how to play. Couple that with some awful play calling and it's easy to see why Joe struggled. We need, in my opinion, a big possession receiver, like Boldin. Torrey Smith is a great deep threat but he's not hugely dependable. I don't know enough about the draft class but I will do some research. Then we should just take linemen.

Harbs has no chance of leaving but Caldwell needs a kick up the arse

kevohmsford

Flacco was just not getting enough protection/ options really. Pitta and Osemele being out so long did not help either. We had a lot of red zone fever. Yeah a big wide receiver would be greatly needed.

Pudsy33

The redzone stuff took years off my life absolute crap playcalling.

mikemac1

1. WR
2. Offensive lineman
3. Tight End
4. WR
5. Middle linebacker
6. Cornerback
7 What the hell, draft a punter as Sam Koch is costing a lot of valuable cap space

Always willing to get disagreed with
Just a quick plan for next April

Pudsy33

Mlb is a need, but I'd genuinely take more linemen. Marlon Brown has impressed me. I think one receiver would add an awful lot.

Paully D

Offensive tackle and wide receiver in the first two rounds in whatever order please.

Pudsy33

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Mlb is a need,

Daryl Smith played a stormer this year imo, so he'll be the starter for a few years. That being said we need a reliable no.2.

Pudsy33

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Daryl Smith played a stormer this year imo, so he'll be the starter for a few years. That being said we need a reliable no.2.

Absolutely, but can we keep him?

mikemac1

Deleted User wrote: »

Daryl Smith played a stormer this year imo, so he'll be the starter for a few years. That being said we need a reliable no.2.

The team can't afford all their vets and decisions will have to be made.

Smith played so well he'll get himself a payday.

McClain has been starter but he's not the same after his injury and cutting him would save cap space. He wasn't even that good before his injury

They have a no 2 in Arthur Brown but he hardly got on the field all season as they persisted with Josh Bynes who is little more then a special teamer imo

Ravens aren't a team known for starting rookies immediately and Brown didn't get much of a chance

mikemac1

http://russellstreetreport.com/ravens-2014-free-agency-preview/

Super read here on the state of the salary cap as we approach free agency

Jameel McClain, Sam Koch and Vonta Leach looking very vulnerable to get the axe

mikemac1

Wilbert Montgomery the running backs coach was sacked today

I'd be looking further up the franchise such as our offensive line coach and our run game coordinator if blame is to be handed out. Even the offensive coordinator

Maybe more sackings to follow, we'll see

spiralism

Just a heads up for any of yous in the mood for misty eyed reminiscing: Sky Sports 1 are showing Americas Game: The 2012 Ravens at 4.30 tomorrow

Pudsy33

Does anyone know where I could find the latest America's game online?

Paully D

Some notes from the annual end of season press conference with Biscotti, Newsome, Harbaugh and Cass:

- Newsome when asked about Suggs returning basically said straight up that he's let good players walk before and would do it again.

- Want to upgrade the size and athleticism of our O-line.

- They've already identified the type of receiver they will hope to bring in. A possession receiver who can ''convert on 3rd and 7 or 8 and gain good yards after the catch.'' They said this receiver may come in the draft, through a trade, or as a free agent.

- Going after a proper free safety as we were virtually playing with two strongs there all year. They want a playmaker at the position who can ''come away with the ball when it's tipped in the air''

- Want the defense to get better at getting off the field on 3rd down but pointed out that there was often 6 new players out there at the same time. They didn't have enough confidence or understanding to get off the field at crucial times which cost us ''three or four games''

- Reiterated a couple of times that an offensive playmaker is the #1 priority this offseason.

Interesting enough that Ozzie was so open on Suggs as he's usually not at all revealing on those issues. I suspect Suggs will be given a 'take it or leave it' offer, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him gone.

On the offensive playmaker, Boldin, Decker, Nicks and James Jones could be options or if we go the draft route then Lee, Evans, Matthews or Benjamin will likely be high on our draft boards.

Tristram

mikemac1 wrote: »

Ravens aren't a team known for starting rookies immediately and Brown didn't get much of a chance

Brown saw more time towards the end of the season and there were definite signs of improvement. I think the is going to turn into a very, very good player for the Ravens.

adrian522

Paully D wrote: »

- They've already identified the type of receiver they will hope to bring in. A possession receiver who can ''convert on 3rd and 7 or 8 and gain good yards after the catch.'' They said this receiver may come in the draft, through a trade, or as a free agent.

Could have sworn they let just such a receiver go for a 6th round pick last off season.

mikemac1

Paully D wrote: »

Lee, Evans,

I thought for a second you were posting about Lee Evans :eek:

Nobody wants to remmbemr the drop/strip in the AFC Championship game

Paully D

adrian522 wrote: »

Could have sworn they let just such a receiver go for a 6th round pick last off season.

A massive mistake which everyone concerned has acknowledged.

adrian522

Paully D wrote: »

A massive mistake which everyone concerned has acknowledged.

Saved our season anyway...

Red Crow

I don't think Nicks goes to Baltimore. He'll cost too much and is constantly carrying injuries. He'll go somewhere next year for big money and will probably disappoint!

Paully D

Well, the Lions hiring of Jim Caldwell has saved Harbaugh from getting his hands dirty and firing him, so who do you all want as our next offensive coordinator?

I seen Ian Rapoport is reporting that we've interviewed Kyle Shanahan (please God no).

Other names mentioned are:

Gary Kubiak - he would likely put us in the best position to get the run game going again.

Rob Chudzinki - can't say I'm a fan, a few Panthers have had nothing but bad things to say about him also

Jim Hostler - in-house candidate and we usually go in-house for these hires.

Norv Turner - I think Turner would be a very good hire. He had the Browns offense ranked mid-way among teams despite basically having no QB. Problem is he's still under contract and the Browns might not let him go depending on what their new head coach wants to do.

For me I'd have Turner as my first choice and Kubiak as my second choice. I wouldn't be a fan at all of Shanahan, Chudzinki or promoting Hostler.

helimachoptor

You can have Munch

mikemac1

Kubiak please!

Paully D

I knew releasing Suggs would free up a nice bit of cap space, but I didn't realise just how much. $7.8m! I'd be very surprised if he's back.

mikemac1

Kyle Shanahan & Jim Hostler the only candidates left who have completed interviews for the OC job

Meh, I don't like either choice

Paully D

mikemac1 wrote: »

Kyle Shanahan & Jim Hostler the only candidates left who have completed interviews for the OC job

Meh, I don't like either choice

Both complete rubbish in all honesty. I sense another frustrating year on the offensive side of the ball if that's the quality of offensive coordinator candidate.

Kirby Wilson was the best choice...

kevohmsford

Gary Kubiak is the new OC

Paully D

kevohmsford wrote: »

Gary Kubiak is the new OC

Delighted with that. Great choice compared to Shanahan and Hostler anyway.

mikemac1

A thumbs up to this news

Tristram

Very good appointment in my opinion. Might see the Raven's running game back on track next season. Not sure what Kubiak will do for Flacco's game.

youngco87

Tristram wrote: »

Very good appointment in my opinion. Might see the Raven's running game back on track next season. Not sure what Kubiak will do for Flacco's game.

Kubiak turned a few QBs with less talent than Flacco into top QBs based on stats. If he gets the run game back working then Flacco will have a top year with a lot of success coming from play action!

Paully D

End of season performance grades from Pro Football Focus:



Hopefully we can get Monroe tied up.

Paully D

Thomas Hammock of the Wisconsin Badgers is the new running backs coach. Looks to be an interesting hire. I'm liking the steps the team are taking to improve the running game:

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/6662/impressive-resume-for-new-rb-coach

The Baltimore Ravens officially announced the hiring of Wisconsin's Thomas Hammock as their running backs coach Thursday.

"Take a look at Thomas’ college résumé," coach John Harbaugh said. "It’s impressive, and it’s clear he can teach, coach and help players become better."

This is the track record that Hammock brings to a Ravens running game that averaged 3.1 yards per carry, the lowest output for any team since the 2007 Chicago Bears:

During Hammock's three seasons as Wisconsin's running backs coach, the Badgers ranked third nationally in rushing yards per attempt (5.7), fourth in rushing touchdowns (121) and seventh overall in rushing yards per game (251.1). Wisconsin led the Big Ten in each of these categories during Hammock's time there.

Badger running backs eclipsed the 100-yard mark 40 times in Hammock's three years, producing the most 100-yard games of any team in the country since 2011.

Hammock has coached the country’s leading rusher twice during his career: Wisconsin's Montee Ball (2011) and Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe (2006). Ball, who is in his second season with the Denver Broncos, tied Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season touchdowns record (39) that season.

Last season, Wisconsin set a single-season school record with 3,689 rushing yards and ranked eighth nationally after averaging 283.8 rushing yards per game. Melvin Gordon (1,609) and James White (1,444) set the all-time NCAA record for rushing yards by a pair of teammates in a season, combining for 3,053 yards. The tandem made Wisconsin the nation's only team to produce multiple running backs that averaged more than 100 yards per game.

Hammock replaces Wilbert Montgomery, who coached the Ravens' running backs for the past six seasons. This is Hammock's first job in the NFL.

He reportedly chose the Ravens over the Green Bay Packers and an AFC North team, presumably the Cleveland Browns.

“The opportunity to coach at the highest level -- and that’s what the NFL is -- excites me,” Hammock said. “To come to an organization that is committed to winning and has a coaching staff that is so respected is a tremendous opportunity, and I’m looking forward to getting started. Working with Coach Harbaugh, learning the offense and working with Coach [Gary] Kubiak, and then coaching these outstanding Ravens players, is special."

kevohmsford

Looks like the Ravens are targeting a wide receiver and tight end in the draft.
Eric Ebron from North Carolina a tight end and Marquise Lee a wide receiver from USC options it seems

TO.

Paully D wrote: »

Thomas Hammock of the Wisconsin Badgers is the new running backs coach. Looks to be an interesting hire. I'm liking the steps the team are taking to improve the running game:

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/6662/impressive-resume-for-new-rb-coach

Fantastic Coach Hammock is. He will do an excellent job with the Ravens with Harbaugh and Kubiak as his mentors now. Guy is only 32 and you would think he was a lot older the way he carries himself. Such a wise head on young shoulders.

Paully D

Finally found our 2012 America's Game online lads. I know a lot of people (myself included) had difficulty finding it up until now. Credit to Reddit user 'hippiejesus' for the link - http://www.reddit.com/r/ravens/comments/1loffi/americas_game_please_help/

http://www.putlocker.com/file/27F16B5ECA08E7EE#

Great memories. Just a perfect year really - winning it in Ray's last year (I personally believe this was the catalyst for the whole run), Reed finally getting his hands on a Lombardi, that unbelievable game against the Broncos and then managing to win the Super Bowl that comes down to the final play.

Enjoy re-living it all over again

Paully D

Uh-oh:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-ravens-running-back-ray-rice-arrested-after-incident-in-atlantic-city-20140216,0,132362.story

Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested over the weekend after an alleged physical altercation with a woman at a casino in Atlantic City, according to his attorneys.

Rice’s attorney Andrew Alperstein confirmed Rice was charged and released after what he described as allegations of a “very minor physical altercation” at Revel Casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Alperstein also said a woman he identified as Rice’s fiancée was also charged and released in connection with the incident.

Rice, 27, was released on his own recognizance, Alperstein said.

Atlantic City police have not returned calls about the incident.

According to Ravens director of public relations Chad Steele: "We are aware of the Friday night situation with Ray Rice and his fiancee. We have spoken with Ray, and know that they returned home together after being detained."

Michael Diamondstein, a Philadelphia-based attorney, has been hired to represent Rice.

“We haven’t seen any charging documents yet,” Diamondstein said. “There was an argument that included Ray. I can’t give any specifics because we haven’t seen the document yet.”

“Once we’re able to go through the evidence, it should wind up to be little more than a misunderstanding,” Diamondstein said.

Since getting drafted out of Rutgers in the second round of the 2008 draft, Rice has been one of the Ravens’ most popular and productive players. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Rice has rushed for 6,180 yards and 37 touchdowns over six NFL seasons.

However, he’s coming off his most disappointing season as a pro as he was limited to 660 rushing yards and four touchdowns this past season as the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since he’s been on the team.
Rice, who signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Ravens in July 2012, has also been one of the organization’s most active players in the community. He’s been especially active in anti-bullying campaigns.

Lets hope Diamondstein is correct and it is ''little more than a misunderstanding."

Paully D

In other news, Suggs is staying. New deal done:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000326049/article/terrell-suggs-ravens-agree-to-terms-on-extension

Same article says that Oher is likely off (thankfully) and that the extra cap space will go towards trying to tie up Monroe, Smith and Pitta.

mikemac1

I heard Rice tried to run away but he couldn't find any open space in front of him

Paully D

Looking increasingly like the franchise tag for Dennis Pitta, but I think we all expected it anyway:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000326270/article/ravens-dennis-pitta-reportedly-far-apart-on-new-deal?campaign=Twitter_atl

Masked Man

http://www.tmz.com/2014/02/19/ray-rice-unconscious-fiancee-atlantic-city-video-arrest/

hope that's not what it looks like.

helimachoptor

was just about the post that, shocking

Paully D

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/laces-out/video-surfaces-of-ray-rice-dragging-unconscious-fiancee-021914

Rice's attorney Michael Diamondstein responded to a request for comment, saying the video posted by TMZ is "not the complete event, but is merely the end result of what transpired."

Diamondstein added: "Neither Ray nor myself will try this case in the media.

"We'll assure the public that when this matter is fully tried and completed, you'll have a better understanding of what happened and we ask the public to reserve making any judgment until all of the facts come out."

Maybe she was passed out drunk and it wasn't a result of Rice KO'ing her (unlikely I know ).

To be fair if it was a rival teams player I would be hammering them. I'm gutted. Rice is one of my favourite players but what has happened, if it is what it looks like, is indefensible.

I'll wait and see what transpires but I can only see things getting worse as more evidence comes to light. I hope I'm wrong.

Paully D

Matt Elam took a job at Finish Line for the offseason in order to improve his retail/merchandising experience as he wants to eventually own his own sports store. He also had no agent and saved money by negotiating his rookie deal himself. He seems to be a pretty cool, very level-headed person:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Matt-Elam-Explains-Why-He-Took-Job-At-Finish-Line/e81f4b51-0436-4d4a-8977-3d9d2859eb06

NFL players don’t often need to pick up part-time work in the offseason – especially first-round draft picks.

But Matt Elam had a different approach to his first NFL offseason.

The safety from Florida decided to get a retail job, and ended up getting hired at a Finish Line in a mall in Gainesville, Fla.

Since Elam was a kid, he has wanted to eventually open his own sports merchandise store and saw this as his way to get some first-hand experience.

“I just need to get retail knowledge,” Elam said. “That’s basically what I’m doing. I’m getting that knowledge for when it’s time.”

Elam is a part-time sales associate, clocking about 20 hours per week. He works on the floor and occasionally stocks the shelves in the back.

The extra income is a nice little supplement to his NFL paycheck, but Elam joked that he isn’t even sure how much he makes an hour.

“Everybody was surprised when I started,” he said. “They were like, ‘Why? You got enough money.’ But it’s not about the money. It’s just me building.”

Elam was hired about a month ago after submitting online applications to five stores in the Oaks Mall. He then followed up with the manager at Finish Line and was hired a couple days later.

“I went to the store and I just talked to them and told them what my plan was,” Elam said. “They were happy to hire me and they hired me two or three days later.”

Other than playing football, it’s his first job since he was a summer camp counselor in high school.

He admitted that the whole experience has been somewhat eye opening.

“I didn’t realize there was so much organization, so much planning. I didn’t realize there was so much to it,” Elam said. “I just thought you’d say you want a shoe, so then you’d go back and grab a shoe. There’s way more to it. You have number coding. You have color coding, all of that. I just realized that there’s more to it than I thought.”

The job has also reinforced to Elam that he wants to open his own sports store someday, as he likes the competitive spirit of the business.

Another perk that Elam gets an employee discount, but has hardly even capitalized on it.

“I get a discount, but I barely use it because I don’t want them to think I’m just trying to use them,” he said. “I don’t want to give them that idea.”

The mall is just a few miles away from the University of Florida campus, where Elam was an All-American football player and is currently taking classes to finish his degree. Elam is a household name in Florida, and he has become a bit of a celebrity on the job.

Fans routinely come into the store to meet him, and pictures of him in his work uniform have popped up all over social media.

“A lot of people have started recognizing me,” Elam said. “Kids will come in for pictures and fans will come in asking for pictures, autographs. People will be buying stuff just for me to sign it. It’s pretty exciting.”

Elam said that his boss has no problem with the extra attention he brings to the store.

“It also improves their numbers,” he said.

Elam developed a reputation for being prudent during his first year in the NFL. He negotiated his rookie contract without an agent, saving thousands of dollars in agent fees. He also has a sponsorship with Under Armour and acknowledged that working at Finish Line could possibly open marketing opportunities down the road.

“I know you can’t do football forever. I’m going to use it to benefit me when I’m doing so that my kids won’t have to worry about this,” Elam said. “I take a lot of pride in that because I feel like a lot of kids are blind to this, and don’t have these opportunities, and don’t have the knowledge. I hope I can open a lot of their eyes.”

Elam plans to keep the job at Finish Line while he’s working toward his degree in anthropology this spring, but he will be back in Baltimore in mid-April in time for the start of voluntary offseason workouts.

“I’m so excited about this upcoming season,” Elam said. “It’s a big year.”